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PARIS (AFP) - The heads of French drug group Sanofi-Synthelabo and its bigger rival and takeover target Aventis have met or are to meet the French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, amid government opposition to foreign intervention in the takeover contest.

Sanofi chief executive Jean-Francois Dehecq met the newly appointed finance minister on Monday and Aventis chief executive is to meet Sarkozy in coming days, several sources said.

Although Sarkozy has made no comment on the matter, the French government has openly encouraged Sanofi and Aventis to merge in order to keep foreign companies at bay.

However, Aventis has rejected Sanofi's hostile bid in favour of a tie-up with Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, which has expressed concern about the French government's attitude towards a Novartis-Aventis merger.

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